Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 1930 NITROGEN FERTILISERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 9 April 1930, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 1930 NITROGEN FERTILISERS

THE interesting article upon the projected scheme for extracting nitrates floin the air by using the waters of Lako Manapouri, in Southland, printed in our columns yesterday, may seem like a fairy-tale, but as a matter of fact it has its warrant in the existence, in Norway, of a similar scheme which is working satisfactorily. Indeed, there is quite a romance associated with this matter of producing nitrates from the air, as presently we shall show.

The most famous nitrate-beds are those of Chile, the two principal organisations which work them being the Lautaro Nitrato Company and the An-glo-Chilean Nitrate Corporation, which lately have amalgamated because of the menace which the synthetic nitrogen pioduct is to the naturally-produced article. Further than that the Chilean Government subsidises the production of the famous Titcna-Arica fields; and but lately the Chilean Ministers of Finance and of Mines paid a visit to Europe for the purpose of coming to an understanding with tho producers of synthetic nitrate, in order to prevent under-cutting and the disturbing effects of competition. The result was that prices were reduced 5 per cent., and it was agreed to engage upon a propaganda campaign for the greater use by the public of nitrogen fertilisers. Seiior Fernando Benitez, who is an authority on this subject, recently wrote: The world's consumption of nitrogen fertilisers has increased at the rate of about 20 per cent, in the last two years, as compared with an average of 5 per cent, (previously). Though this is highlv satisfactory from the producers' point of view, the alarming increase in production, especially in synthetic compounds, more than offsets the buying capacity of the markets. In June, 1929 ; for instance, accumulated stocks of nitrogen fertilisers were estimated at 2,500,000 metric tons of Chilean nitrate.

There were also large accumulations of synthetic stocks. And yet, in spite of this apparent over-production, powerful British financial groups have decided to produce synthetic nitrates on a scale heretofore not contemplated. What then is there behind such an apparently foolhardy undertaking? It will have been noticed that it is extremely expensive to construct works with which to extract nitrates from the air. The British organisation is spending, not millions, but tens of millions sterling on its tremens clous undertaking, the romance of which will bo appreciated when its character is understood. It also illustrates the immense wealth of vision of the British financial magnates. The soil of most British farms is poverty-stricken through the lack of fertilisers, but the farmers are too poor to buy such nitrogen fertilisers as would renew the productivity, of their lands. At the same time the coal-mining industry languishes through lack of markets. The British financiers have said, "Let us use coal in immense quantifies for extracting synthetic nitrates from the air, and with the fertilisers thus produced let us restore the piosperity of British farming!" It ; is a very great scheme, costing enormous sums of money, but it is practical and patriotic, and is being put into operation. In several parts of Great Britain immense plants have been, or are being, erected for the purpose in hand. They will consume great quantities of British coal, and will produce from the air great quantities of nitrates, with the aid of which the British fanner will be able to regenerate the soil of his depleted fields, at a price which will be within his power to pay. If that is not a romance of business, the world is flat. The principle behind it is that the consumption of nitrogen fertilisers can be increased enormously with immense benefit to the country and its people. Instead of there being an over-production of nitrates, there can be such an increased demand that there should be no stocks held by producers. As soon as the use of such fertilisers becomes a habit with the fanning community, all stocks so I.eld will be depleted, and the lands' production will be increased. Fortunately it seems that production by synthetic piocoss can be extended to meet any possible demand.

About, a year ago, there was a report, furnished to a conference held at Cape Town, to the effect that a large field of nitrates had been discovered in the desert of South-West Africa. Here possibly is another source of the valuable fertiliser. What will be the future of the New Zealand project cannot be determined. But it seems likely that there is pra-jtically no limit to the expansion of the demand for the valuable fertiliser, if the agriculturalists of the world are educated in the beneficial results of its use, and provided the price is kept down to a limit with which the farmer can cope successfully-